I haven’t hitched up yet, but when I do, I’ll report if the Timbren makes a difference.

Oh, and one more thing . . .

The steering wheel doesn’t shudder any more. Yippee!

~ ~ ~

Heat wave!

Temperatures rise to highs in the upper 90s and it’s humid. This goes on for several days. The crew and I are okay in the morning, but by 2 p.m. we are melting.

I search my Montana Benchmark atlas and online to find a campground or an RV park where we can have electric to power the air conditioning. The only acceptable choices are $40 – $50 a night.

No will do.

Usually, when we need a cool camp, we go up in elevation. I thought we would do that in Montana. I find out it isn’t so easy here. Most of the campgrounds are along the rivers that meander at low elevations.

For instance, the town of Superior’s elevation is only 2,744 feet.

One afternoon we are miserable.

I pour buckets of cool water from the campground spigot into a big basin. I soak my feet and splash water on myself. Reggie and Roger take turns standing in the water.

Temporary relief, but not enough. That evening the camp host tells me he got a reading of 102 degrees on his thermometer.

The next day . . .

I wait until the afternoon and then I pop the crew into the PTV.

“We’re gonna’ find a place where we can sit in Trout Creek!”

I drive us up Forest Road 250 past Trout Creek Campground.

I’m hopeful because the road clings to the course of the creek.

Surely there’s a place where we can get in the water . . .

A few miles up the road, we find access to the creek!

I park the PTV in the shade and grab Reggie and Roger.

“This is gonna’ be so great! You’re gonna’ love this!”

I hook them to the ends of the 25-foot tether. We scramble down the bank to the water.

“Someone has made a little pool!”

The water is clear and cold and wonderful!

Sitting in the pool, the water comes up to my rib cage. At first Reg and Rog are hesitant. With a little encouragement Roger comes to me, stepping on the rocks. I pick him up and gradually lower him into the water next to me.

He’s on a rock so the water is up to his “waist.” He leans against me with his front paws on my lap, not moving a muscle, and I hold him securely. He just stands in the cool water while I talk to him.

“Ooh, isn’t this nice, Rog?”

Reggie is jealous.

His jealousy motivates him to venture into the water. He steps gingerly on the rocks until next to me. Roger goes to shore and Reggie takes his place, but only for a few moments. Then he heads for dry land, too.

(I wish I had photos of the crew in the water. Between the slippery rocks and managing the pups, I didn’t dare bring the camera out to the creek.)

One could camp here (see photo above) in a van, a small Class B, or a truck camper. There’s a small fire ring. I could probably tuck the BLT into this spot but I’d have a tough time making it level enough. My primary reason for not camping along Trout Creek is the lack of internet.

The breeze coming off the water is cool.

The three of us are refreshed.

“Let’s see what else we can find!”

Below are photos of a few creekside boondocks, good for small rigs.

You can tell from the shadow that the sun is low. This adds to the coolness.

The next campsite is larger than the others and very pretty. The crew and I spend a lot of time at this one.

I’m in and out of the creek. The crew plays on the “beach” of river rock.

I set out my camp chair and read my Paperwhite when I’m not taking these photos.

Trout Creek is our refuge from the heat for the next few afternoons.

Reggie and Roger play in the deep grass as daisies stand by.

Roger finds a stick. He’s very good at amusing himself.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

Real time report:

After a two-day break, the heat wave resumes!

rvsue

THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!

Every purchase is appreciated. These links take you to some of the items that readers recently ordered from Amazon:

The weather here north of Spokane Wa has been unusually hot but did cool off Monday but is going to warm up again at the end of the week. I sure will be glad when it gets back to normal. The heat wave seems to be all over the west. Our nights drop to the 50s and low 60s which helps. Hope you find some cooler weather. I look for your blog and do enjoy it.

July seems to be a difficult month for me and my crew. We’ve encountered heat waves a couple of Julys, we’ve run from the smoke of forest fires, and, of course, there’s the Fourth of July celebrations. I’m wondering if I should plan our travels in the future to put us in a place with a/c and where behaviors are monitored. Just sit there til August. No kidding. 🙂

What a beautiful solution for hot afternoons! I hope your move tomorrow takes you to another place where you’ll find lovely respites from the heat, too. Rest well when you do tonight. Sending you and your adorable pups wishes for nice breezes through your windows along the road .

Thank you for another sweet note to me and the boys. We are moving camp today, but not far. Before we leave I want to catch up on comments. Such nice messages deserve a reply! I really don’t like that my participation has been erratic this summer.

It’s sometimes really hard not to be erratic with our participation. For weeks in springtime the tech issues with the blog made me experience commenting and viewing delays. At times you need to limit your replies for different reasons, such as data limits, problems keeping things charged, etc. Then there’s always trying to find a balance of enjoying life away from keyboard with the rewards being here offers each of us. I think any or all of that can temporarily affect our patience and even enthusiasm, make it wax and wane. Oh well, I know when the frequency or depth of the connection fluctuates, it’s not because we aren’t trying or don’t care. Like with any road in life, there are high and low parts, we “roll with it” , it’s all good 🙂

It sounds like your new camp is a great place to be at this time of year. I love the ways you find to make the most out of any day, heat wave or not. We’ve had rain and thunder at some point almost every day for at least three months here. I take each storm as a gift and the sunny hours as a chance to celebrate with more typical summertime activities.

Your home is in a dynamic, super-charged state of rain and thunder! Then you appreciate the sunshine and peacefulness that follows. Your words remind me to appreciate the cool mornings and nights we have, contrasted with the hot afternoons. I know I wouldn’t appreciate them as much if it weren’t for that contrast.

You’ve been on my mind a lot lately, weather, and I don’t know why. I hope you and those you care about are well and happy. 🙂

In late May a dear friend began having serious health problems, actually had full cardiac arrest a dozen times. He lives with my antique store friends.We’ve all worked more hours at the shop, prayed and worried,lost sleep…he’s finally stable and almost back to full energy, function,etc. It just gets heavy having to consider mortality so often. Little things, like fixing a broken vacuum cleaner needed to clear a home of any flea eggs laid after treating the kitties for them, loom large when rest becomes too rare. Thank God, my own health is good, and our efforts and prayers have been rewarded with blessed success. I guess you’ve been feeling the clouds drift across my soul lately, you’ve often perceived my unspoken thoughts. All is well, I’m touched by your sensitivity and concern.

Speaking of clarity, my description wasn’t very clear. 🙂 Do this and you’ll have a better idea of the depth of the water: While sitting, find the bottom of your rib cage. Look at the distance from there to your seat… not very far, is it? I know it was to the bottom of my rib cage because that’s where the shock of cold water becomes tough to take. 🙂

I thought the same thing as Cinandjules…it was up to your ribs??? It didn’t look that deep at all. But I’m sure it was COLD!! So glad you found it. And so glad the boys were good around the water. They are adorable.

It’s been hot hot hot here in lower Michigan too…and earlier this week I was in Alabama which goes without saying is hot in July. I almost put the tent up in the back yard here in Michigan tonight so that Katie the dog and I could ‘camp out’ but just taking her for a walk was so hot and humid I decided to wimp out and stick with air conditioning and a real bed tonight. Which turned out to be a good decision as we just had a huge thunderstorm blow through. Maybe tomorrow night.

Wow! I would have never guessed that you’d have trouble finding a cool spot in Montana! And humid? Glad you found your beach. I could just sit all day and look at the river rocks!

I spent yesterday on a “sidewalk” project. My new little house sits in the woods and has no real walkway to it. Last time it rained, the dogs and I were bringing in mud. So, I got a load of small river rocks and made a nice walkway for us. That is good for two reasons….no mud when it rains later this week. And, I can sit and look at the rocks. They are from James River….the same one upon which Captain John Smith sailed. Only he was a good bit east of me. 🙂

Have a good day Sue and crew.
MB, Wyndy and Bella (Wyn says to tell you that she would be laying in that water with you but Bella is a chicken!)

Your “little house…in the woods” with a river rock walkway sounds delightful. It’s fun creating walks. Can be hard work, but such creativity with practical, visible results is satisfying. That walk is really YOURS. 🙂

I don’t know about it being self bleeding. The power steering wasn’t low on fluid. I know because I checked it myself a couple times before the last visit to the shop.

When Alec had the engine opened up to put the serpentine belt on he offered to fix the a/c. He said it needs a new tensioner pulley (and, a belt, of course, because I had the loose one cut away.) I told him I didn’t want the a/c fixed because I’ve chased that horse before, many times, and I’d rather ride with the window open.

One would think so. My experience with older vehicles I’ve had over the years is it stops working shortly after having it fixed. Another thing I didn’t mention is the fact that I don’t get respiratory illnesses. Living in the heat and then having cold air blown into one’s lungs while driving may be a reason for that. I used to be plagued with respiratory ailments. But mainly I got tired of buying freon and not have the dang a/c work!

Hello Sue, Reg, and Rog! It was good to hear that you got the rear suspension issue fixed on your PTV. There are so many things like that to know about improving the towing of your BLT, or anyone’s BLT. Glad you have that fixed and behind you. It’s important to keep your “house” in working order for the best enjoyment. That one spot on the river sure looks good for a stay . . . and coolness is within a stone’s throw. Yesterday it was 90 here in the Boise area and I never thought I would say that it was a nice cool day, considering that we came off of 4 – 5 days in a row of triple digit and it’s expected to climb into triple digit again this weekend.

Thank you so much for the wonderful essays and photos of the boys. I really enjoy it. You should go for that one area without wifi signal and enjoy your self. Everyone here will understand.

Temps in the 90s is a relief after days of triple digits. I can relate to that! Yes, they’re going to climb again, starting today here.

I’m tempted to camp on the creek. I confess. It’s the money. This has been an expensive year for us, new refrigerator, new brakes, serpentine belt, water pump, etc. also new computer, increased blog hosting costs, and the vet visits/preventative meds for Rog and Reg. I’m amazed I haven’t had to replace my camera yet because I’ve dropped it many times. What’s that got to do with not camping on the creek? When I don’t have internet and subsequently don’t post regularly, my Amazon sales plummet.

A few years before I sold my house and went full-time vagabonding I prayed for an income that could be generated without going to a job. I feel like the Amazon Affiliate program is an answer to that prayer and because of that, I don’t want to turn my back on it. I don’t know if that makes sense.

I’ve been given what I asked for and I should use the gift and be grateful for it.

It is hotter there than here in the Memphis area. It was hot but not bad yesterday here. I think it might have been 93 here with very little humidity and a nice breeze. It is July after all so it is going to be hot. Your little pool area looks very inviting. So glad you found it. Roger is settling in nicely I see and Reggie looks like he is calming down too. Life is good, enjoy.

Wow, never thought we would be cooler here than you up in Wyoming! We have had very few days in the 90’s, usually like today expected high of 87 but the humidity is 97%! VERY MUGGY! Were lucky to be just a few yards from the shores of St. George Sound, we get those nice Gulf breezes daily. That cold water you have been sitting in looks inviting! I would be sitting in it too. Hope you find a cool corner to camp in soon! Hugs to the boys and you too!

Sue and crew, oh you are in an area I dream of visiting. I love all the photos as it just makes my dreams come close to reality. I want to stomp all around that area and see all there is to see. I read James Lee Burke books and many of them are about Lolo, Mt. His description of the area is so enticing that now I must visit. The photos and your trip there is helping me a lot with my planning.
Well, back to the grid iron….be safe out there my friend, Judy

Alec told me that Route 12 is an especially beautiful drive with several campgrounds along the river. I’d like to go there. No internet, so it would be a time when I have this blog all caught up. On the map the river and the road meander for several miles.

Oh yes, Sue. We did Route 12 last year with our fifth wheel on our way from Boise to Glacier. Beautiful. We spent one night at Wilderness Gateway campground and it was very quiet and peaceful, but since it was the end of September, it couldn’t be anything but.

I don’t generally read the comments, so maybe someone has addressed this already. I have a van very like yours – it is a 2011 GMC Savanna (I think yours is the Chevy version; they are much the same).

Maybe you have special tires on the PTV (admittedly, I am not up on tires), but 65 psi sounds to me to be completely off the charts. I have top-of-the-line truck tires on my van, and the door sticker calls for 35 psi.

You bring up a great topic, something I discussed with Alec at the shop. The PTV’s tires are 10-ply. The sticker on the door says to inflate tires to 55 psi. That’s for regular tires. Alec said for 10-ply the psi needs to be 10 pounds more which is why he put them up to 65.

Oh how nice that you found a little pool to soak in. Spike would be proud of your activity. That larger campsite near the river seems too good to pass up. Could you write your blog offline and post when you are out near a signal? Then we would all have the best of both worlds, a cool Sue and crew, and lots of news from you! Just a thought.

Don’t spend your money for Microsoft Office. LibreOffice or Open Office can do the same things that you probably need and they are both FREE. Or even Google DOC with a Google Drive account, also FREE.
I have used all of those and they work fine with very little learning curve from Microsoft Office.

Thanks, Ed. I tried downloading those two and wasn’t successful. Google hates me because I don’t have an account. I think my new computer is set up to push a person toward buying Office. I removed a lot of unnecessary software that was preloaded prior to my purchase so maybe the downloads will work now. I’ll try again. At present I’m using precious charge and time for the blog.

I appreciate the reminder of the names of the free downloads, saving me from looking them up.

Well, one thing I could do is write two blog posts and then set it up so the second post is published at a later day. I tried doing that in the past but by the time I finished the first post, I was not inspired to write another one. Plus I usually have other things I want to do or have to do. I’m not giving up on that plan though.

Hi Missy and friends! Gee, I have made so little comment lately that I begin to wonder if I am still a blogorino?? I promise to try to do better when things level out in my life. I love watching little Reggie and Roger (who actually adopted you) become so tight knit. I think back to that pic of little Roger when he was off in the distance, neck craned and looking you and Reggie over. He definitely was meant to be what he became, a regular crew member. When you told us about the creek adventure, my mind went to Spike. I probably will never see water and not think of that boy. Whether I comment or not, you guys are on my mind and in my heart….J

And you are on my mind and in my heart, Jim. Thank you for writing. It means a lot.

What? Blogorinos are FOREVER! Remember that! 🙂

I know what you mean about water and Spike. He was in my thoughts as I sat in the creek. Many times I see his serene expression as he soaked. I’ve come to realize that I’ll never stop missing the Spikester!

I think of Bridget when the crew and I turn around to return to camp. I see her fat behind and the dainty way she’d place her feet, all the while supremely confident that she knew the way home and proud to have the responsibility.

A friend suggested to me that I head down to the Oregon coast to the state parks for cooler weather in the heat of summer. It was so worth it. Peaceful beach walking during the mornings for me and the pups, and cool forest camping under the trees. If Montana keeps heating up you may want to give it a try too.

Yes, the Oregon coast is lovely and there always seems to be breezes. We camped in the forest, can’t remember the name right now.

I’ll be honest. My first and last visit to the Oregon coast and inland was wonderful in many ways. However, the crowds, the crazy people (It’s quite an experience to have a fellow camper call you M..therf…er for HOURS) were not fun. And also I felt pursued by a few readers (No need to go into that!). All in all I was turned off by my Oregon experience.

I probably will go back another year because it is a beautiful state. although I don’t want to go there in summer again. Thanks for the suggestion.

You must have had reservations to stay at the state parks, I’m guessing.

We got back a bit over a week ago from the area to the southwest of Hillsboro, OR…a gorgeous place…as we came down from the top of the hilly area where hubby’s niece lives, we saw the most spectacular view of the mts in this range ever…FIVE mt. tops!! Beginning with Mt. Rainier and going south…we were amazed we could even see the top of Mt. Rainier that far south. But it is getting very crowded the last few years on this coast!! And I think that there are 3 states anyway that I know about with lots of really good people (Montana, Wyoming and Idaho)…not to say every person in them is good, but you seem to run into so many who are!!

Oh, David… YOu make it sound so easy. I have looked at my tires standing on my head so my trifocals will line up. I’ve dusted the print with powder. I’ve wet the print. The print is too tiny for my eyes. Thanks for the suggestion … You may have helped someone else.

Oh my goodness, those are awful temps and terrible for wildlife too. The crew look happy in their new playground. Very comical. Lovely sites too that you’ve shown. Good to have your vehicles ship shape once more. Safe travels.

Hi Sue,
Kind of off topic but I was just wondering if the vet gave you an estimate on Rogers age. When we adopted Peanut the vet looked at his teeth n guessed he was about 10 months old. No doubt the older they get its harder to be specific. I remember reading Roger weighs in around 12 lbs, sorry if I over looked his age estimate. Just curious. Makes no difference in his adorable quotient. He’s obviously young at heart. From the pictures I’ve noticed your good care is showing in his coat. He looks healthier. I’ve been watching for it. I expected that from you. When I saw his dull coat I thought oh Sue will have him fixed up soon.

Hi there Sue…………….its long lost me and my goodness I am sorry that I have been so slack of late in not keeping up with your blog. This morning I opened your blog to see two dogs on your banner and wow, you have another dog…..how wonderful!! So I had to read right back from the beginning of May to read the lovely story of how you came by the handsome Roger. I feel so happy for you and Reggie………….lovely photos to view along the way and back in Montana! Love it. So sorry its so hot…..keep cool and I promise I will keep up in the future!

Hi Sue. I take my Casita out often, and find that if I stay more than three days without electric my battery goes dead. I have a solar panel which helps, but if I watch many movies on my DVD player, I go dead pretty fast. Do you have a generator? How do you deal with the battery problem. Thank you

Not knowing the wattage of your solar panel or what your battery set-up is I can only address the difference between your usage and mine. I have a TV on which I can watch DVDs. I rarely do. If I want to watch a DVD, I don’t wait until after dark or a watch the DVD in portions. Since I’m not a TV watcher, I don’t have a “battery problem.”

No, I don’t have a generator. If someone gave me one, I’d sell it or give it to someone else. In six years the crew and I have done fine relying on solar power only. You may want to compare your set-up with mine. If so, go to the header and look at “solar power.”

Sue, you say you don’t have a generator but you use your PTVs engine as a generator to recharge your batteries on occasion. That counts as a “generator”.

Linda, Your battery type is most important but also the size of your solar cell. You should try to get some 6 volt golf cart batteries. They have a much deeper cycle and will work much longer between charges. However they do require a little more maintenance. But still it sounds like perhaps you are not getting recharged as you should, might want to get the system checked out.

Hi RvSue!
Never think you aren’t “working” for your income! Your readers appreciate the great writing and thoughtful care which make up your wonderful posts, as well as the hard work it takes to write them. BTW, you will probably will hear from me more often since I kind of had to quit my job due to these stupid headaches. It was only part time anyway and I liked keeping busy. Oh well, something else will come up and I have gotten better since I have been at home so there is that.
I will keep reading your posts, too, as I lounge over coffee in the a.m. So take care!

It’s good news that you’ll be here more often, but not good that you still have headaches, although I’m happy you are getting better. I think I mentioned to you once before — as I do to anyone suffering with headaches — to check one’s self for food allergies. Don’t eat dairy products like aged cheese, stay away from chocolate, and a few other triggers for a few months and see if the headaches go away. That’s what I did and then I discovered I could eat those foods again with no headache.

A different environment helps, too!

Your first two sentences are especially sweet, Terri. Thank you. You take care, too!

I hoped the neutering would turn him into a model child. Ha! I don’t see much difference but what I do see is important. Food aggression isn’t as intense. I don’t have to stand guard between the food bowls any more. Whether that’s the result of the neutering or of having more than enough to eat, I can’t tell. I see a very slight moderating of his behavior — less intense when he plays with Reggie, for instance.

The Timbrens you put on are bump stops. They are not meant to carry weight. Just take the jolt out if the suspension bottoms out. If they are bottomed with the trailer in place, the ride will be harsh. A better solution is heavier springs, coilovers, or air bags.